customs officers used paid informants to target individuals in the Pakistani community. Defence lawyers believe up to 100 individuals may have been trapped by informants and that many of them are innocent, like Mr Choudhery and Mr Ashraf. Initially the pair pleaded guilty because lawyers warned they could face even longer sentences if they didn't. But once in jail they protested their innocence saying they had been set-up by paid informers. In years of legal wrangling the full dangers of the Customs' method of tackling the multi-million drugs trade was revealed. It involved Custom officers going to Pakistan and recruiting paid informers who then acquired hard drugs. They were allowed to bring these into the UK under the protection of Customs officers. The informers were then let lose to select their own targets in the Pakistani community. They set up drugs deals while Customs officers waited to pounce.